Parallel Parking

[KevinTodd]

The street in front of our business has parallel parking spaces on both sides, with an unusually tall curb-height. Over the years it has become routine for me, my employees and even other customers to stop what they are doing just to watch people park (or attempt to) in these spaces.

I see several each day that pull straight in rather than backing in properly; others that take five or six tries before either settling for getting as close as they can or giving up altogether.

I have to admit it is at least entertaining to watch--but seriously, it is just not that hard, right? I mean--if you can't manage your vehicles dimensions any better than that while trying to park, how are your other driving skills?

I think I just answered my own question. That is all.

[BReif61]

I am admittedly terrible at parallel parking. Comes from living in suburbs/rural areas my whole life. I'm also paranoid about curbing wheels.

So yea, I'd be one of hte guys providing you a laugh.

[herr_oberst]

I can just picture a bunch of guys at the window, drinking coffee, watching people park. An occasional elbow nudge, a wry smirk. A slight shake of the head or a quick head bob for a job well done.

That sounds like fun.

[oldE]

I think there are two factors:

The first is lack of practice. No one was born knowing how to parallel park. You have to do it in order to get any good at it.

The second is spacial awareness. There are again two factors here. One is awareness of the dimensions of your vehicle outside your lines of sight, the other is your ability to relate that to the dimensions of the parking space. Some folks just cannot visualize that relationship and will either err on the side of caution (stop six feet from the other car) or throw caution to the winds (park by ear or seismic evidence).

I suspect we've seen all the variations one might imagine.

Best
Les

[ossiblue]

Here in California, you used to have to parallel park in order to get your drivers license and it was the most feared part of the test. Not any more. Don't know when the testing changed but all my kids (in their 30s now) never had to parallel park in order to get their licenses and to this day, they have a difficult time doing it. It is probably the same in other states as well and likely accounts for what we are seeing.

It's also probably the motivation for auto companies to produce the "automatic parking" feature they are hyping on their commercials. They have millions of drivers who have no practice or skill in parallel parking.

[Z-man]

Way back in driver's ed, my instructor taught me the technique of how to properly parallel park. If you know how to do it, it is no trouble at all. The technique went something like this:

1. Pull up next to the front car so you are side-by-side. Put car in reverse.

2. As soon as the back end is beyond the front car, rotate the steering wheel one half turn.

3. Proceed backward until the car is at approvimately a 45 degree angle to the curb.

4. Rotate the wheel back to the 'center' position (wheels straight). Continue reversing until the nose of your car has cleared the front car.

5. Now rotate the steering wheel a full turn counter-clockwise, and continue reversing until the car is parallel to the curb.

6. Rotate the wheel back to center position (wheels straight) and move forward into the spot.

7. (Optional) Continue moving back and forth 7-8 times while frantically rotating the wheel left and right until you are sufficiently close to the curb. :-)

-Z-man.

[GeorgeK]

You want a challenge? parallel park with one eye closed.

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Way back in driver's ed, my instructor taught me the technique of how to properly parallel park. If you know how to do it, it is no trouble at all. The technique went something like this:

1. Pull up next to the front car so you are side-by-side. Put car in reverse.

2. As soon as the back end is beyond the front car, rotate the steering wheel one half turn.

3. Proceed backward until the car is at approvimately a 45 degree angle to the curb.

4. Rotate the wheel back to the 'center' position (wheels straight). Continue reversing until the nose of your car has cleared the front car.

5. Now rotate the steering wheel a full turn counter-clockwise, and continue reversing until the car is parallel to the curb.

6. Rotate the wheel back to center position (wheels straight) and move forward into the spot.

7. (Optional) Continue moving back and forth 7-8 times while frantically rotating the wheel left and right until you are sufficiently close to the curb. :-)

-Z-man.

Yes!!

[NYPorsche]

Originally Posted by GeorgeK

You want a challenge? parallel park with one eye closed.

Mostly blind in one eye - so this would be everytime I go to parallel park. Seem to have no problems.

Although - I hate to admit it - but the rear view camera on my wife's new odyssey gives a leg up. But I got by with no problems for 15 years without it.

You want to learn? Get yourself a mid 80's Country Squire Wagon and go into any city - you'll get the hang of it quick.

[id10t]

Not hard if you learn how to do it right. I learned to parallel park in a '76 Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon. I can parallel park anything I've owned since.

[genrex]

My older sisters took the driver's ed test in our 1965 Chevy Impala station wagon. They each failed the test twice. By the time it was my turn, we had traded in the station wagon for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Parallel parking? No problem.

_

[GeorgeK]

Originally Posted by NYPorsche

Mostly blind in one eye - so this would be everytime I go to parallel park. Seem to have no problems.

Monocular vision has no depth perception. That is why it is difficult if not impossible for those who have 2 good eyes and close one. I guess you adapt over time.

[red-beard]

Parallel parking was on our driving test. You missed that, no driver's license!

[red-beard]

#1. You have to measure the space. If you don't have your car length plus about 5 feet, it isn't going to happen.

Z-man put up a pretty good explanation of how to. But..

There are so many stupid people who pull up behind you as you are trying to park
They swoop into the spot as well

For me, these days I don't parallel park very often, but I do back into spots. My F250 is long behind the rear wheels, so it is better to back in, minimizing how much space I stick out. I can't tell you how many times I start to back into a spot and some one either pulls up, blocking me, or they try to cut me off into the spot I am already backing into.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Way back in driver's ed, my instructor taught me the technique of how to properly parallel park. If you know how to do it, it is no trouble at all. The technique went something like this:

1. Pull up next to the front car so you are side-by-side. Put car in reverse.

1.5 - asshat in traffic behind you pulls right up on your ass so you can't back up.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Way back in driver's ed, my instructor taught me the technique of how to properly parallel park. If you know how to do it, it is no trouble at all. The technique went something like this:

1. Pull up next to the front car so you are side-by-side. Put car in reverse.

2. As soon as the back end is beyond the front car, rotate the steering wheel one half turn.

3. Proceed backward until the car is at approvimately a 45 degree angle to the curb.

4. Rotate the wheel back to the 'center' position (wheels straight). Continue reversing until the nose of your car has cleared the front car.

5. Now rotate the steering wheel a full turn counter-clockwise, and continue reversing until the car is parallel to the curb.

6. Rotate the wheel back to center position (wheels straight) and move forward into the spot.

7. (Optional) Continue moving back and forth 7-8 times while frantically rotating the wheel left and right until you are sufficiently close to the curb. :-)

-Z-man.

My mum- one of the worst drivers in the world- taught me exactly like this. I taught my kids. And the wife. Its still on driving test where I live.

If a man cant parrallel park....serious man card violation

[widgeon13]

I like it when they try to parallel park front first, yes, I've seen it tried when they want to block out the person who is trying to do it correctly.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

Here in California, you used to have to parallel park in order to get your drivers license and it was the most feared part of the test. Not any more. Don't know when the testing changed but all my kids (in their 30s now) never had to parallel park in order to get their licenses and to this day, they have a difficult time doing it. It is probably the same in other states as well and likely accounts for what we are seeing.

I grew up in CA and don't recall having to parallel park during my driving test. I'm in my 30s.

My wife grew up in Boston. She the best parallel parker I've ever seen. Give her a spot 6 inches longer than the car and she gets in, first try. No shuffling back and forth. OK, maybe a slight exaggeration, but not far from the truth.

[911SauCy]

You do it with a hand-brake !!

[Noah930]

Particularly if it's not your car!